Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-02-09
q MUSEUM OF CURIOS.
The Contents of the Observation-Disclosures
Room of a Big City Hotel

q MUSEUM OF CURIOS.
The Contents of the Observation-Disclosures
Room of a Big City Hotel.
Notlong ago the baggage store-room
of the Palmer Housevwas filled with ev-
licences of the forgetfulness and f.
nancial responsibility of vast num-
Der of guests. The rule generally among
hotels is to keep unclaimed baggage or
packages three years, subject to the
call of the owner, at the expiration of
which time those remaining are sold at
auction. This annual sale took place
recently, consisting of the parcels and
possessions left during the year 1888.
To one viewing this vast collection of
luggage it would seem almost incon-
ceivable that SO many things should
have been forgotten, as a major part
were, and also that SO many unusual
things should be found there. The
word baggage is not generally taken to
mean a cooking-stove. or q sewing
machine, yet in this collection was not
only a cooking stove, but pots, pans,
,coffee-pots, knives, forks and potato
masher, while off in one corner were
two antiquated sewing-machines. One
had been left by mistake and the other
Intentionally as collateral for value al
ready received by the owner in the
shape of food and lodging, There were
trunks and valises of all sizes, styles
and descriptions, from the silver
mounted alligator-skin grip" of the
swell drummer to the Unbound black
vanished paper valise of the country
man who spent all his money seeing
the town and Jumped his board bill, !"
leaving this sole token of his love. OF
trunks there was an endless variety. A
very substantial one was opened, and
was found to contain the full uniform
of German dragoon. Every thing
was complete top boots and spurs,
dress and fatigue coats and trousers
covered with gold lace, sabretache and
shake, while on the breast of the dress
coat was sewed a decoration, pendant
from a triangle formed of German col
ors, the medal itself of bronze gilded
and bearing date of 1874 and a
German inscription. In the same trunk
was velvet-lined case in which were a
pair of old dueling pistols. From the size
and style of these weapons they must
have been nearly one hundred years
old.
All of the things in this trunk be-
spoke a certain amount of refinement,
which contrasted strangely with the
contents of the neighboring one. In
that were lot of old clothes, copies of
flash literature, two whisky bottles
one empty, the other half full-a worm
out revolver and a dangerous-looking
knife. Three large massive trunks
were especially noticeable and were
found to contain theatrical costumes of
remarkable beauty and value. A close
investigation revealed the name of the
owner, an actress of National reputa-
ton, who has been notified and to
whom the trunks will be delivered,
they having been probably forgotten
or delivered to the wrong address and
returned. Another trunk was full of
blank books, ledgers, etc., and there
was one full of sponges, one of
channels skin, one of hatchets, axes
and knives; one of cloaks, which had
been so moth-eaten as to resemble
mosquito netting; one of shoes, but
not a pair among them; one of hats
and caps of all kinds, from satin
opera-hat to a fifty-cent cloth cap;
while still another was full of fans,
some beautifully inlaid and some of
japanese and Chinese manufacture, in
all over a thousand fans.
Probably the one that was the most
accurate representative of its owners
character was the trunk full of bricks,
sand-bags and scrap-iron. The man
who left it also left large bill. One
valise was full of champagne, and in
others were found Christmas cards,
music, gloves, pictures, jewelry, but
tons, laces, optical and surgical instru-
ments, dolls, tobacco, marlin-spike,
marine glasses, charts of the Pacific
Ocean and China Sea and various COM
mercial samples in almost every mag
Unable kind of business. There was
large packing-box full of advertising
for the Inflated New Orleans EXPOSE
ton, while another contained choruses
and blank advertising cards.
In corner stood about three hum
dred umbrellas and canes, represent
ing every known type of either article.
Near this lot hung a small reticule,
which was jewel in its way, and con-
tanned two articles distinctively femi-
nine-a powder-rag and garter. The
only approach to this in the way of
scant baggage was a collar-box neatly
wrapped, in which there were two very
high collars, pair of celluloid cuffs
and soiled white scarf. No claim
existed against these articles, and is
generally supposed the dude was too
weak to carry them away. There were
some quite valuable emeralds, few
opals, pearls end sapphires. Several
gold chains and cuff-buttons were al
SO found.
After the sale had been concluded